When Zunaed Siddiqui walked in to open Bangladesh's historic run chase against New Zealand at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium fortune had already lent him a helping hand. Zunaed was not the first choice opener to partner Tamim Iqbal.

If everything went according to plan Shahriar Nafees would have opened the batting with Tamim Iqbal. But ICL happened and Bangladesh lost Nafees. One man's loss is another man's gain. Nafees chose ICL and Zunaed got his nod.

It is even more amazing to note

that Zunaed only scored 62 runs in his previous eight matches for Bangladesh at an average of less than eight runs per innings. This statistic alone could spell the doom of an international career. Zunaed got his second break and he grabbed it with both hands. He made a patient, workmanlike, career-best, match-winning 85 which earned him the man-of-the-match award.

Zunaed said after the match, "I am feeling great because the team won.

"My one-day form was really worrying and I feel this to be my best innings so far.

"Planning is very important and if we can follow the plan 100 per

cent then we will achieve the result"

Taking about his matchwinning effort Zunaed said, "I built my innings exactly the way I wanted. After Tamim got out my plan was to stay for the fifty overs. I knew we play better against spin and all we needed to do was stay at the wicket."

He was also happy to see making contribution to a big win on a day he and his national team colleagues officially bid farewell to Khaled Mashud Pilot, former captain and wicketkeeper of the Tigers.

"He has done a lot for Rajshahi cricketers and there he is a role

SEE PAGE 18 COL 8